ANTH 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Primatology, Cultural Relativism
Document Summary
1/11: anthro: study of humankind in past & present- requires holistic approach (bio, history, culture, humans are biological & cultural organisms, bio anthro: evolutionary perspective- human behaviors & adaptations make sense to ensure survival & carrying on genes. Cultural relativism: cannot prejudge other cultures- must think relatively. Fieldwork: going to place & engaging in culture. Ethnography: description of culture: diff sub-fields take on diff aspects at diff times using diff methods. & subgroups w/specific experiences: all societies began w/black & white, then red and so on, environments have diff colors: rain forest, desert, arctic, socialization/enculturation (teaching): inter-cultural variation- Ngabe/american; intra-cultural varion- american male/female: experience, importance & refined perception: art majors vs comp sci; bomb diffusers from any culture. Eat 3 meals a day- feel hungry at these times, produce physical effects. Arbitrary- no natural relationship w/what they represent; made up but people agree on them. Symbols are culture-specific (not universal) & may cause confusion in diff settings.
